Fountain brush head having sliding valve



May 19, 1953 J. w. ANDERSON 2,638,614

FOUNTAIN BRUSH HEAD HAVING sLIDING VALVE Filed March 13, 195o INVENToR. (ja/Wea n( Ande/Jan E? BVM www Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,638,614 FOUNTAIN BRUS'HLHEAD HAVING SLIDING James W. Anderson, Kansas City, Kans.

AIVIICl-GVUI 13, 1950, Serial NUL 149,265

This invention relates toI new and useful -improvements yin toothbrushes; and relates particularly totoothbrushes #of the-type having a reservoir for toothpaste. e f l The yprincipal object of the presentv invention is the provision of a toothbrush the handle of which serves as a reservoirfor4 toothpaste,means for forcing any desiredamount of toothpaste from said reservoir into the bristles of the" brush, and a valve for controlling the flow of toothpaste. -f 'v 'Y Another object is th`e`dispositionof said valve as close as possibleto the paste outlet orifices. This reduces the space into which water, saliva, etc. may ilowf'backwardlylduring use of the brush, thereby reducing contamination and the formation of-bad odors.` l'

A further object is the provision, in a toothbrush of the character described, of` a'bristle carrier which isi-quickly and easily renewable when the bristles are worn.

Other objects are simplicity and 'economy of construction, ease and convenience of operation and durability. N '1 With these objects in view, as Well as other objects which will appear in the vcourse of the specification, reference will'be 'had to theY drawing, wherein: K

Figure 1 is a side view of a toothbrush embodying'the present invention.l

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig. 1i. a

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line III--III of Fig.g2, with the valve in the closed position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged face vView of the head portion of the brush with the bristle carrier removed, showing the valve closed in solid lines and open in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line V-.V of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a section Fig. 3. Y

Figure '7 is an enlarged section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 1. y

Figure 8 is an enlarged section taken onv line VIII- VIII of Fig. 1.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a unitary body member formed preferably of -a moldable material such as plastic, although other materials could be used, and comprising a 'handle portion 4, a restricted neckportion 6 extending longitudinally from one end of said handle, and a head portion 8 disposed at the outer end `of said neck. Handle 4' is subtaken on line VI-VI of stantially oval in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 7,and is hollow whereby tofform a reservoir vIl) for containing toothpaste. The rearward vend of said handle is 'closed by a fixed cap I2 cemented or otherwise secured thereto. A screw kI4 is disposed axially in the handle, having its forward endreduced and disposed rotatably in a socket I6 formed therefor in the handle, and having its rearwardend carried rotatably in a hole I8 formed" in cap l2. Said screw'is provided with an enlargement 2B bearing against the inner surface of capl2 to prevent longitudinal movement of said screw. A knob 22 is fixed to the rearwardly extended end of the screw, whereby said screw may be rotatedmanually. A pair of bosses 24 vformed integrally with cap I2 project outwardly adjacent opposite sides 'of knob 22, protecting said knob from accidental blows. A

' A piston 26 having a. compressible sealing ring 28 'is threaded lonscrew I4 within reservoir l0. Said piston is oval in'shape to correspond with the shape' of "the reservoir. This prevents the piston fromturning axially, and provides that itwill be 'advanced through the reservoir by turning knobL 22. '-Adjacentits rearward end, handle 4is provided-with a 'filling opening 30 through which toothpaste may be introduced into Teservoir I 0. Said opening is provided with a threaded plug-32 under which is disposed a rubber sealing gasket 34.

At the'forward end of handle 4, a pair 'of passageways 36 are formed therein, said passageways communicating at their rearward ends with reservoir l0, and converging forwardly into a single passageway 38 which extends through neck 6 and to a point 'adjacent the forward end of head 8. Head 8 isfsubstantially rectangular in cross-section, and, as best shown in Fig. 5, has

a-longitudinally extending groiove 40 formed in each of the opposite sides thereof. 'Said grooves extend to the forward end of the head and terminate .at their rearward ends at a shoulder 42. A brush carrier member 44, being elongated and ofY substantially rectangular cross-section, has an undercut groove 45 formed longitudinally in the upper surface thereof, whereby said carrier may be slidably positioned on head B, groove 45 engaging .grooves 40 .of said head. Shoulders 42 limit the rearward movement of said carrier. On the lower surface of. head 8 immediately adjacent shoulders 42 a vrounded protuberanee or hump` 48 is formed, said hump being integral with said head. Carrier 44 is formed to present a longitudinally extending finger 5!! at its rearwardnend, said ringer having a concaveA upper 59 will be deflected resiliently downwardly by hump 48, and will act as a detent to engage said hump to hold said carrier rmly but detachab-ly in place. It will be noted that carrier 44 extends forwardly from the forward end of head 8. A plurality lof tufts G of bristles are fixed in the lower surface of carrier 44 in any suitable manner, such as by being `cemented in sockets 58 formed in said carrier.

A groove '52 is formed longitudinally in the lower` surface of head 8, or that surface of head 8 adjacent carrier 44 and a plurality of holes 54 are formed in said head interconnecting passageway 38 with the bottom of said groove. A hole 60 is formed through carrier 44 in axial alignment with each of holes 54. Holes fSU zare disposed intermediate the bristle tufts 5B, as best shown in Fig. 2. Carried for longitudinal sliding movement in groove 52 is an elongated.

planar valve member 62' having a plurality of holes 64 formed therein. Holes 64 arepositioned so as to move into alignment with holes 54 and Si! when valve 62 is moved forwardly, as-shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, thereby permitting toothpaste to flow intov the bristles, and to move out of alignment with holes 54 and '60 when the valve kis moved rearwardly. Valve `t2 is provided with transverselyextending-ears 65, best shownin Fig. 4, which extend into transverse enlargements 68 of groove 52 to limit the movement of the valve.

The rearward end portion of valve 62 is carried slidably in a socket "l0 formed therefor in head 8. At its forward end valve G2 is provided with an enlarged-integral operating handle 72. Said valve handle forms a forward extension of head 8, having .the same'cross-sectional configuration as said head, and extends normally flush with the forward end .of carrier -44'as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 6, it is providedy along its sides with grooves 'I4 for engaging'undercut groove 46'of carrier 44. Head Bisprovided at its forward end with a longitudinally Aprojecting finger yIt which projectslinto a socket T8 in valve handle l2.` Said linger is resilient and is provided at its `free end with a transversely extending boss or detent `adopted vto engage an offset B2 formed in socket 18 when lsaid valve handle is pushed rearwardly, thereby ysecuring said valve handle releasably in the closed position. The upper surface of head 8 is notched at 84 adjacent valve lhandle 'I2 whereby said valve handle may be engaged with a fingernail-to move it to its open position.

In operation, the user moves piston26 to the rearward end of reservoir 4Il] by operation of knob 22, removes plug 32, inserts the neck of a toothpaste tube into'opening, squeezes said tube to lill reservoir 1H) with toothpaste, and reinserts plug 32. When it is desired to use the brush, valve 62 is opened by pushing valve handle 72 forwardly, andknob 22 is turned to advance piston 25 to force toothpaste through passageways 35 and 38, holes 54, holes 64 of the valve, and holes F50 of carrier 44 into the spaces between bristle tufts 56. When the desired amount of toothpaste has been extruded, valve handle 'l2 is pushed rearwardly until it is engaged by linger 16.

Thus it is apparent that a toothbrush having several advantages has been produced. The valve action closely regulates the amount of toothpaste delivered and prevents the back ow of water, saliva, andthe like-into .the reservoir. The close proximity of the. valve `tQ-t h,e outlet vof, the head `also has several advantages.

securely in position, and also supports and guides the -valve `handle 12. Also the head may be quickly and easily disassembled for thorough cleaning. After carrier 44 has been removed,

valve `62 maybe bowed resiliently away from head 8 to free ears 66 thereof from groove enlargements 68, and then moved longitudinally to free it from socket '10 and nger 16 of head 3.

Although I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, itisapparent that many minor changes of construction and operation could be made without departing `from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore requested that my protection extend to all subject matter falling properly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desired to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A toothbrush of the class described including a hollow head portion having apertures formed therein and to which toothpaste may be delivered, va carrier member vdetachably carried by said head, bristles mounted in said carrier, said carrier member having apertures formed therein among said bristles and disposed vnormally in alignment with said head apertures, a resiliently supported detent formed on said carrier for securing said carrier detachably on said head, a valve member disposed slidably between said head and said carrier and having aperturesformed therein adapted to be moved to and from registry with said head and carrier apertures, a handle for operating said valve, said handlehaving an interlocking sliding connection with ,said carrier, and a resiliently supported detent carried by said head and adapted to engage said valve handle to secure said valve in its closed position. l I 2. A toothbrush of the class described including a hollow elongated head portion to which toothpaste may be delivered, said head having longitudinal grooves formed in the side and bottom surfaces thereof andy apertures interconnecting the interior thereof with said bottom groove-a carrier disposed beneath said head and having an undercut groove formed in the upper surface thereof, said undercut groove forming confronting longitudinalribs engaging slidably said side head grooves, releasable means securing said carrier against sliding movement on said head, said carrier having apertures formed therethrough in alignment with said head apertures, bristles mounted in said carrier, a valve member Vcarried forsliding movement in said bottom head groove and having apertures-formed therethrough .adapted to'be moved to and from registry With said head and carrier apertures, a handle secured to one end'of said valve and forming a vlongitudinal extension of said head, said valve handle having grooves formed in the sides thereof for slidable engagement with the ribs of said carrier, and a resiliently supported detent carried by said jhead and releasably engaging-said valve handle to secure saidI Valve in the closed Number Name Date position. 1,396,630 Higbee Nov. 8, 1921 JAM'ES W. ANDERSON. 1,432,715 Mendoza Oct. 17, 1922 1,682,325 DAmico Aug. 28, 1928 References Cited in the le of this patent 5 1,701,030 Collins 1 Feb, 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,840,589 LeenhOlltS Jan. 12, 1932 Number N o D t 1,887,913 Bell Nov. 15, 1932 am a e 2,018,158 Violette om. 22, 1935 9951626 :Mora'n June 20, 1911 2 299 Battle Oct 4,

1292 288 Fisher Jan. 21 1919 2,557,267 Eilmger June 19, 1951 1,339,745 Dunaway May 11, 1920 

